Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis ·
Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025 or the COAL Act of 2025 This bill requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to process certain pending applications to lease coal mineral estates owned by the federal government in order to develop coal. If the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 has commenced for an application, then the BLM must publish a draft environmental assessment and any applicable implementing regulations, finalize the fair market value of the coal tract for which a lease by application is pending, take all intermediate actions necessary to grant the application, and grant the application. With respect to previously awarded coal leases, the BLM must grant any additional approvals required for mining activities to commence. Finally, the bill nullifies the Department of the Interior's Secretarial Order 3338, which placed a hold on most new federal coal leases until the BLM completes a comprehensive review of the federal coal program.
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2025-10-23
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2025-10-23
Introduced in Senate
Full Bill Text
119 S3045 IS: Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-10-23 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3045 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 23, 2025 Ms. Lummis (for herself and Mr. Barrasso ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to take certain actions with respect to certain qualified coal applications, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Combating Obstruction Against Leasing Act of 2025 or the COAL Act of 2025 . 2. Leasing for certain qualified coal applications (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Coal lease The term coal lease means a lease entered into by the United States as lessor, through the Bureau of Land Management, and an applicant, as lessee, on Bureau of Land Management Form 3400–012 (or a successor form). (2) Qualified application The term qualified application means any application for a coal lease pending as of the date of enactment of this Act submitted under the lease by application program administered by the Bureau of Land Management pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act ( 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq. ) and subpart 3425 of part 3420 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), for which the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) has commenced as of that date of enactment. (b) Mandatory leasing and other required approvals As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (1) with respect to each qualified application— (A) if not previously published for public comment, publish— (i) a draft environmental assessment, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ); and (ii) any applicable implementing regulations; (B) finalize the fair market value of the coal tract for which the qualified application is pending; (C) take all intermediate actions necessary to grant the qualified application; and (D) grant the qualified application; and (2) with respect to previously awarded coal leases, grant any additional approvals of the Department of the Interior or any bureau, agency, or division of the Department of the Interior required for mining activities to commence. 3. Future coal leasing Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Secretarial Order 3338, issued by the Secretary of the Interior on January 15, 2016 (relating to the Federal coal moratorium), shall have no force or effect.
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